Printing plate precursor, printing plate precursor laminate, method for making printing plate, and printing method

A method for making a printing plate, comprising:

• providing a printing plate precursor comprising:
• an aluminum support,
• an image recording layer which is provided at a printing surface side of the aluminum support and includes a polymer compound having a particle shape, and
• an optional layer which is provided at the printing surface side,
• wherein the printing plate precursor contains particles in the image recording layer or the optional layer,
• the modulus of elasticity of the particles is 0.7 GPa or more,
• in a case where the Bekk smoothness of an outermost layer surface at the printing surface side is denoted by A second, the following expression (1) is satisfied,
• the polymer compound is thermoplastic polymer particles or a microgel, and
• the thermoplastic polymer particles include styrene and/or acrylonitrile as a constitutional unit:
• A≤1,000 (1);
• image-exposing the printing plate precursor;
• and
• supplying at least one of printing ink or dampening water to remove an unexposed area of the image recording layer on a printing machine and make the printing plate.